Season’s Greetings – from The Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust

On behalf of Lady Dalhousie and the Trustees of the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust I would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee and all the Friends of the Dundee Botanic Garden for their support during 2014.

Since joining the Endowment Trust in March of this year much has happened. We are delighted to have Lady Dalhousie as our Patron a truly wonderful Ambassador. We now have a corporate identity with our new logo and leaflet available, and a striking pull up banner.

In September I attended the Dundee Food and Flower Festival courtesy of the ‘Friends’ who allowed me to share their stand, this gesture was greatly appreciated and allowed me to meet many of the members over the three days and gave me the vehicle to begin the promotion of the Trust.

I wrote a letter to every Member of the Friends explaining about the Trust and introducing myself, this coincided with an editorial in the Friends’ Newsletter.

This was followed by our Open Day on Saturday 18^th October, a very successful day with almost 700 people attending. Our Main Marquee hosted a very popular Celebrity Gardeners Question Time hosted by Jim McColl, followed by four amazing talks, with the Finale being provided by the University of Dundee Concert Band.

Everything was themed on the Garden and conservation, with the external activities including demonstrations of Woodturning, Willow Weaving, Bees and Honey, Apple Pressing to name a few. The Birds of Prey and the Face Painting were busy from the moment we opened and for those who were working too hard Yu Spa from the Apex were there to promote the benefits of a nice massage.

However the day’s success was also due to the support from many areas and grateful thanks to the staff of the Botanic Garden for all their efforts during the day and with the build-up and breakdown.

Special thanks to the Friends for their support with the pre publicity and all the activities that you supported during the day and appreciation to Frances Tait for co-ordinating all of this.

I am delighted that together we raised the profile of the Endowment Trust and the Botanic Garden. Due to a few very generous and an anonymous donations our Open Day raised in excess of £160,000.00.

If you would like more information on the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust and how you can support us please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to working with you during 2015 but I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful time over the Festive Period.

Best wishes

Gordon

Gordon Ramsay

Trust Development Officer

The Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust is a registered Scottish Charity No. SC044040